Design

Good design tells a story. Your story is unique; your presentation of that story should be equally unique. It helps you illustrate the connection between what you are offering and what your audience needs.

Your idea doesn't have to be big. It just has to be yours alone. The more the idea is yours alone, the more freedom you have to do something really amazing. The more amazing, the more people will click with your idea. The more people click with your idea, the more it will change the world.Hugh Macleod

Unleashed is a full service design entity; on most projects my role is far more comprehensive than just the design and development and includes re-branding, content creation (via partners who specialize in copywriting), and consultation. I help you craft a story that best explains what you offer and who you are.

Develop

Although you might not care about the specifics of the tools I use, you should at least have a basic understanding because it will set you on a path that you may be on for some time. I believe that good websites are a craft; I don't use templates or quick solutions—instead, I build sites that are designed for speed, functionality, and long-term stability on multiple devices.

Right now we're at an exciting time in web development, things are changing rapidly and new tools are coming out every day that are absolute game changers. Some of these tools are a bit immature yet, but have amazing promise. Because of this, I don't like building sites that marry us to any specific language or framework. Instead, things are architected as simply as possible, using external services for the more complex parts.

Current Stack

Things change all the time, I use various stacks for various clients. This is what I seem to be using a lot lately:

Portfolio

This is far from an extensive look, but it should give you an idea of my style. I don't believe in templates, every bit of work should be unique and designed to solve a specific set of challenges. I believe that simple is better (but not easier); function is as important as form; design should be around content (no lorem ipsum here); and constant, organic change can be healthy.

While I've worked on various bigger clients, the work I showcase tends to be the projects I had fun with and causes believe in. I've done everything from web apps without a single image to brochure websites, but my favorite is something in-between—where you're not only selling a product or service, but also some serious functionality.

Projects

About

Unleashed is the freelancing entity for Perry Kibler. I'm based in Bainbridge Island (near Seattle), but I've worked with clients from around the world. I began Unleashed in 2003 under the premise that traditional design agencies aren't the best fit for every client (and sometimes they are). In 2017, Unleashed shifted a bit and I went to work for Amazon as a Senior UX Designer. I'm still taking some projects for select clients. Feel free to contact me with your project to see if I'd be a good fit.

My niche is the front-end design and development, but I started in print, and still love to work in that medium. I use trusted, long-term contractors for backend website stuff when applicable (like web applications).

Part of working with someone is whether or not you get along personally; you'll work better with people you actually like than you would just a vendor.

Besides being a designer and developer, I'm also a father, a husband, a distance runner, and a climber.

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.Edward Abbey

Random

One of the things that I think is a trait of great designers is that we always feel we can do something better. We look around the world and see all these problems that need fixing: traffic issues, politics, the UI at the ATM, etc. Obviously, we can't fix them all, but at the core of our personalities, we're problem solvers.

I believe that content as a service (e.g. Contentful, Prismic, etc.) is the future and that CMSs are done.

Caffeine is proof of the divine.

Jade and Slim (and similar abstractions) are amazing. Writing HTML in 2016 is like using a fax machine.

I don't believe in flashes of inspiration on coffee shop napkins. I believe in hard work and stubbornness guided by experience.

Nothing is ever finished or perfect. We do the best we can in the time we have and hope for more time later to improve and fine tune.

Content is king. No matter how good the presentation is, it doesn't matter if the content isn't just as good. Design and content need to work in harmony.

The best company out there is the one changing the world into a better place.

More of my humble but absolutely brilliant opinions can be read on Medium.

Contact

Email is the best way to get a hold of me. I'm also on various other social media channels.

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it.Steve Jobs